Rescue crews work feverishly to reach 65 trapped miners

The men had only a six-hour supply of oxygen, but a ventilation system in the mine was still operational.
SAN JUAN DE SABINAS, Mexico (AP) -- Emergency crews using picks, shovels and their hands tunneled feverishly through dirt, wood, metal and rock Monday in an attempt to reach 65 coal miners trapped by a gas explosion 600 feet underground.
Officials said that while it was unlikely the miners were still alive, there was still a chance of finding survivors.
Above ground, priests and pastors led hundreds of the miners' friends and relatives in prayer for the men trapped by Sunday morning's explosion at the Pasta de Conchos mine near the town of San Juan de Sabinas, 85 miles southwest of Eagle Pass, Texas.
Women wept openly and swayed with their arms in the air as the religious leaders spoke, and men wiped tears from their eyes.
"We are waiting for a miracle from God," said Norma Vitela, whose trapped husband, Jose Angel Guzman, had previously told her of problems with gas in the mine. She said the father of four, who earns $75 a week, could not afford to quit.
Access to oxygen
The trapped men had carried only six hours of oxygen, but officials said they believed a ventilation system that uses huge fans to pump in fresh air and suck out dangerous gases was still working. Even so, they could not be certain the precious oxygen was arriving to where the miners were trapped.
Juan Rebolledo, vice president of international affairs for mine owner Grupo Mexico, said oxygen tanks were scattered throughout the site, but it was impossible to know if the trapped miners had access to any of them.
More than 35 hours of digging had pushed rescue teams 400 yards into the mine, about 100 yards from where two conveyor belt operators were believed to be trapped, said Sergio Robles, director of emergency services for Coahuila state.
But others were thought to be trapped as far as one to three miles from the mine's entrance.
Robles said rescuers avoided using electric or gas-powered machinery because of the presence of explosive gases. Medical doctors were on the site to examine rescue workers as they emerged from their eight-hour shifts in the tunnels.
Holding out hope
At least a dozen workers who were near the entrance at the time of the explosion were able to escape. They were treated for broken bones and burns.
Asked whether he believed there were more survivors, Robles said: "It would be difficult because of the presence of gas. But we are holding out hope of finding someone alive."
President Vicente Fox's chief spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, said Monday that the government "has a lot of hope that everyone will get out alive."
Robles said the roof of the mine was better reinforced after 400 meters, giving rescuers hope that they might be able to advance more quickly. He said if there were survivors, they could very well be trying to dig their way out from the other side.
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